Abstract
High-temperature exposure is detrimental to women's reproductive health; however, the impact caused by long-term high temperature is not comprehensive, and a stable model of estrous cycle disorder induced by a high temperature is yet lacking. Herein, we aimed to establish a stable and effective model of estrous cycle disorder in female rats induced by long-term heat stress to study its physiological and pathological characteristics and explore the underlying mechanism. In the present study, female Sprague-Dawley rats with normal estrous cycles were exposed to the temperature of 38 ± 0.5°C, relative humidity (RH) of 55 ± 5% (2 h/d, 1 time/d) hot cabin at more than 90 days. Consequently, after long-term heat stress, no difference was detected in body weight and rectal temperature, but the estrus cycle was prolonged, the uterine organ index was increased, pathological changes occurred, the increase latitude of stress hormones heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and corticosterone (CORT) decreased, estradiol (E2) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels decreased, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (Prl) levels increased, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and thyroid hormone (T4) showed no difference, and insulin (INS) decreased significantly. Moreover, the mRNA expression of the sex hormone receptor in the uterus and ovary was altered. Therefore, the estrous cycle disorder in female rats can be induced by regular heat stress for 90 days, which can be considered the pioneer method. Subsequently, prominent physiological and pathological characteristics and disruption in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis were noted.
Highlights
High-temperature stress affects the menstrual function of career women, such as soldiers, textile workers, and steel workers, resulting in a significant increase in the incidence of abnormal menstruation
The body weight of the heat exposure group was unaltered from day 10 to day 20, and the weight gain was similar to that of the control group after day 30 (Figure 1(a))
Followed by a decline, which was significantly higher than that in the control group from day 1 to day 30 (P < 0:01), and no difference was observed after day 30 (Figure 1(b))
Summary
High-temperature stress affects the menstrual function of career women, such as soldiers, textile workers, and steel workers, resulting in a significant increase in the incidence of abnormal menstruation. The effects of short-term heat exposure on female reproductive function have been studied [1], the mechanism of the impact has not been elucidated. The changes in the reproductive function of professional women in a long-term high-temperature environment need to be clarified. The short-term heat exposure affected the estrous cycle was focused [4]. The disorder during the long-term exposure to high temperature was not apparent, and the physiological and pathological responses need to be elucidated. Establishing a stable and effective model of estrous cycle disorder caused by long-term heat stress is imperative to clarify the effects and mechanisms of the reproductive system in working women. The current study established the estrous cycle disorder model and studied the pathophysiological characteristics of female rats in the long-term hyperthermic environment
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